MY EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NAME : JAMALUDIN BIN MOHAMAD YATIM (ASSOC. PROF., DR.)

FACULTY : FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UTM

EXPERTISE : CIVIL ENGINEERING (ADVANCED MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES)

I have been with the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) for almost 29 years now. After graduating with a Bachelor Degree of Civil Engineering (Honours) in 1988, I started my career as an Assistant Lecturer ‘A’ at the Department of Structure and Materials of the Faculty. Also, I have registered as a graduate Civil Engineer with the Board of Engineer Malaysia (BEM), and a member of Malaysian Society for Engineering and Technology (MSET). I was then appointed as Lecturer in 1993 after obtaining Masters of Civil Engineering, in Structure and Materials. In 2002, I had my PhD degree in Civil Engineering, specialising in advanced composite materials. I was appointed as an Associate Professor in 2006. With the knowledge and experience in Civil Engineering field acquired, I have taught and trained students to become engineers, technical assistants and teachers.

With high commitment in research activities, I have developed an interest in advanced material applications in the construction industry, and further my study in the field for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. At the faculty level, since 2010, I have established and led the Advanced Composites and Innovation Structures (ACIS) research group. This research group consists of six members who are focused on research activities and given the tasks to generate research funds from local and international institutions, have joint research with other centres, such as, Centre for Composites, UTM, build network with industries and publish research outputs. As a team, we have managed to collaborate, observe and discover high potential areas in research, by focusing on the government and industrial needs. Currently, I am managing of two research projects with a total of RM120,000 grant and continuously applying for new grants for advanced research projects, as well as to create opportunities for postgraduate studies. A total of RM1.6 million funds with 20 projects have been generated for the research activities since 1998. With that, I have supervised and evaluated 77 undergraduate final year projects, 10 Masters’ projects and 10 PhD projects related to the field.

January 2018

Our research group has also signed up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a local company and government agencies to further collaborate and enhance research in the said area. This industrial networking through MoU shows the recognition of the industry on my expertise and capability of university resources. For instance, MoU with Everise Crimson (M) Sdn. Bhd. (2012 – 2017) was signed up to conduct the research on Kenaf bio composites materials, product quality assessment and design specifications. Everise Crimson (M) Sdn Bhd, is a local company that manufactures environmentally-friendly composites from Kenaf biomass. A point to highlight here is my focused research in the Kenaf fibre as a reinforcement for polymer composites and fibrous concrete. Kenaf fibre is a plant fibre that has high potential to produce engineering products such as building components, bridges, trusses and many more. The fibre considerably sustainable because it from natural resources and renewable. Because of that interest, in 2010, I registered as a researcher in National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (NKTB) of Malaysia, and also a member of Persatuan Industri Komposit Malaysia (PIK). In order to explore and establish the research interest widely and abroad, I have been accepted as a member of Japanese Society for Composite Materials (JSCM) in 2016.

The outcomes of research and consultation works in this area have specifically resulted in reports and publication of technical papers in national and international conferences. They were also published in journals, books, printed media, standards and research reports. A total of 88 technical papers have been published in indexed journals and conferences (32 technical papers in ISI and Scopus indexed journals, and 56 in national and international conferences). Furthermore, 7 monographs, one book of 5 chapters in it, 10 standards/codes of practice and 7 technical reports/articles in public media have also been published and released. Aligned with research products, a number of 3 patents/copyrights have been registered, with more than 5 products still on-going. On top of that, a research product of “Kenaf Fibrous Concrete for Earthquake Resistance Structures” has been exhibited in the International Innovation and Industrial Design Exhibition 2017 (IIID 2017) and it won the Gold Award. These research outcomes also contributed to improve the undergraduate curriculum and postgraduate courses. Based on the concept of expertise and knowledge sharing, I have faith that the continuous efforts in developing professionalism and smart sharing with related parties would contribute in enhancing quality of teaching and learning, research and consultation activities.

My expertise in advanced materials together with the high academic qualification that I have increases the confidence of students and other parties who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise especially in the construction and composites manufacturing industries. Hence, my students received an extra knowledge in the lecture room, while other parties share

their expertise and together we utilise facilities available in UTM to improve quality of their products. Since 1997, the need for experts on advanced materials in the construction industry has encouraged the government agencies and industries to commit with the research area. I was appointed as a professional advisor to several projects managed by Public Work Department (JKR), Johor Cooperation, and other local composite industries in the product design and applications. In 1998, Sibu Island Resort under Johor Cooperation was assigned our team as an expert designer for the high capacity GFRP water tank and supporting slab. Then, in 2000, JKR appointed our team as a professional expert on CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforce Polymer) composites to strengthen a reinforced concrete bridge at Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. Furthermore, my expertise also recognised by SIRIM in producing Malaysian Standards. Since 2003, as a member of technical committee on Bricks and Blocks, a total of 10 manuals of Malaysian Standards have been produced and published. Besides that, I was a chairman of two working group committees on Concrete Masonry and Concrete Roofing Tiles. Apart of that, I also actively involved in community service as a social responsibility. I was appointed as an expert technical committee in the ongoing construction of Masjid Taman Pulai Indah, Kangkar Pulai, Johor, which has started since 2014. The mosque involves cost about 12million ringgit for the completion.

I strongly believe that to be an outstanding lecturer in higher education, I should upgrade my personal and professional competencies and improve delivery approach in teaching and learning in this field of expertise. In this line, my philosophy of teaching and learning is to guide the students towards excellence in technical knowledge and generic skills to enable them to appreciate sustainable and professional development. Due to this need, I have attended several courses, workshops, seminars and conferences related to teaching and learning organised by universities. In UTM, the courses were organised by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, including Teaching Methods, Evaluation Methods, Teaching Technology, Counselling Skills, Problem Based Learning and Active Learning. I also attended seminars and conferences conducted by professional bodies which give me opportunity to share knowledge and experience with professionals and practitioners. These efforts have significantly developed and improved my teaching and learning skills in the lecture room, as well as communication and consultation skills with the students.

With my ability in management and leadership skill, I was appointed as the Principal of a student residential college (1995-2007) and the Head of Department of Structure and Material (2008-2012). I was committed to execute major plans by the Faculty and University to improve training skills, competencies and work environment for human resources and in managing infrastructures of the department. I also managed to establish consultation skill and effective communication to the students, as well as to improve

problem-solving skills. These skills are essential to establish organisational and academic management especially at the faculty level. In 2013, I took sabbatical leave for 9 months to establish research programmes and industrial networking with local companies.

After five years in employment, I had improved on commitment towards the student needs and organisational goals. The sense of empathy towards the students is an essential aspect in teaching in order to ensure the learning objectives are achieved. Aligned with the current scenario in producing future engineers, I have changed my teaching and learning approach from teacher-centred to student-centred. I encourage my students to ask questions and ideas during my lectures. Besides that, I also participated in educational research, as respondent in engineering education research.

Continuous efforts by UTM to elevate academic quality and competency among the staffs have encouraged me to apply the knowledge and experience in research activities, consultation works and community services. This, of course, requires high technical knowledge and problem solving skills in current issues pertaining to the field of Civil Engineering. By collecting numerous resources of information and research findings, I have managed to acquire the field of interest and committed on the issues related to the applications of advanced material in Civil Engineering. For the purpose of improving research skills, I attended the Research Methodology Course organised by the Research Management Centre, UTM. In fact, I managed to participate in other professional courses and seminars at national and international levels, such as the Course On Structure Construction And Monitoring For Professional Officers organised by IKRAM, the Course On Fibre Reinforced Composites Technology organised by SIRIM Bhd, research paper presented and published in Reinforced Plastic Asia 2000 Conference organised by Elsevier Advanced Technology, and others.

In due recognition of my contributions to the Faculty and University, I was awarded the Anugerah Kepujian Universiti (1997), Anugerah Kecemerlangan Universiti (2003), Anugerah Jasa Bakti (2009) and listed in the Appreciation of contributions in the faculty, university and national level (1995-1997, 2003-2017). I would like to express my gratitude to the University for giving me the assistance and support in my professional development. May Allah keep me in good health to enable me to contribute more in achieving the university aspiration towards a “World Class University”.

ASSOC. PROF. DR JAMALUDIN BIN MOHAMAD YATIM

30th July 2017